Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Hear ye, Rizal and the RH Bill

Larawan ni Rizal.

Ang debate hinggil sa Reproductive Health Bill ay mainit pa rin. Subalit halos naririnig ko si Dr. Jose Rizal na naglalahad ng mga punto sa usapang ito sa pamamagitan ng kanyang liham para sa mga kadalagahan ng Malolos noong kaniyang panahon: (Debate on the Reproductive Health Bill is still raging. I could almost hear Dr. Jose Rizal raising some points on this issue through his letter to the young women of Malolos during his time).

Bahagi ng Orihinal na Liham ni Rizal sa Tagalog:


"...Maghunos dilí ngá tayo at imulat natin ang mata, lalong laló na kayong mga babai, sa pagka't kayo ang nagbubukas ng loob ng tao. Isipin na ang mabuting ina ay iba, sa inang linalang ng fraile; dapat palakhin ang anak na malapit baga sa larawan ng tunay na Dios, Dios na dí nasusuhulan, Dios na dí masakim sa salapí, Dios na ama ng lahat, na walang kinikilingan, Dios na dí tumatabá sa dugó ng mahirap, na dí nagsasaya sa daing ng naruruhagi, at nangbubulag ng matalinong isip.

"Gisingin at ihandá ang loob ng anak sa balang mabuti at mahusay na akalá: pagmamahal sa puri, matapat at timtimang loob, maliwanag na pagiisip, malinis na asal, maginoong kilos, pagibig sa kapuá, at pagpipitagan sa Maykapal, ito ang ituró sa anak. At dahil ang buhay ay punó ng pighatí at sakuná, patibayin ang loob sa ano mang hirap, patapañgin ang pusó sa ano mang pañganib. Huag mag antay ang bayan ng puri at ginhawa, samantalang likó ang pagpapalaki sa batá, samantalang lugamí at mangmang ang babaing magpapalaki ñg anak.

"Walang maiinom sa labó at mapait na bukal; walang matamis na buñga sa punlang maasim. Malaki ngang hindí bahagyá ang katungkulang gaganapin ng babai sa pagkabihis ng hirap ng bayan, nguni at ang lahat na ito'y dí hihigit sa lakas at loob ng babaing Tagalog. Talastas ng lahat ang kapanyarihan at galing ng babayi sa Filipinas, kayá ñgá kanilang binulag, iginapus, at iniyukó ang loob, panatag sila't habang ang iba'y alipin, ay ma-aalipin din naman ang lahat ng mga anak. Ito ang dahilan ng pagkalugamí ng Asia; ang babayi sa Asia'y mangmang at alipin.

"Makapangyarihan ang Europa at Amerika dahil duo'y ang mga babai'y malaya't marunong, dilat ang isip at malakas ang loob.

"Alam na kapus kayong totoo ñg mga librong sukat pagaralan; talastas na walang isinisilid araw araw sa inyong pagiisip kundí ang sadyang pang bulag sa inyong bukal na liwanag; tantó ang lahat na ito, kayá pinagsisikapan naming makaabot sa inyo ang ilaw na sumisilang sa kapuá ninyo babayi; dito sa Europa kung hindí kayamutan itong ilang sabi, at pagdamutang basahin, marahil ay makapal man ang ulap na nakakubkob sa ating bayan, ay pipilitin ding mataos ñg masantin na sikat ñg araw, at sisikat kahit banaag lamang.

"Dí kami manglulumo kapag kayo'y katulong namin; tutulong ang Dios sa pagpawí ñg ulap, palibhasa'y siya ang Dios ñg katotohanan; at isasaulí sa dati ang dilag ñg babaying Tagalog, na walang kakulañgan kundí isang malayang sariling isip, sapagka't sa kabaita'y labis..."

English:

"... Let us be reasonable and open our eyes, especially you women, because you are the ones who open the minds of men. Consider that a good mother is different from the one created by the friars. Raise your children close to the image of the true God – the God who cannot be bribed, the God who is not avaricious, the God who is the father of all, who is not partial, the God who does not fatten on the blood of the poor, who does not rejoice at the plaint of the afflicted, and does not obfuscate the intelligent mind.

"Awaken and prepare the mind of the child for every good and desirable idea – love for honor, sincere and firm character, clear mind, clean conduct, noble action, love for one’s fellow men, respect for God – teach this to your children. And because life is full of sorrows and perils, fortify their character against any difficulty, strengthen their hearts against any danger. The country should not expect honor and prosperity so long as the education of the children is defective, so long as the women who raise the children are enslaved and ignorant.

"Nothing can be drunk in a turbid and bitter spring. No sweet fruit can be picked from a sour seed. Important indeed are the duties that women must fulfill in order to relieve the country of her sufferings, but they are not beyond the strength and character of the Filipino woman to perform. Everybody knows the power and the prudence of the women of the Philippines. Hence they blind them, chain them, weaken their spirit, so sure are they that so long as the mother is a slave, all her children can be enslaved also. This is the reason of the enslavement of Asia: the women of in Asia are ignorant and oppressed.

Europe and America are powerful because there the women are free and educated, their mind is lucid and their character is strong.

We know that you lack instructive books; we realize that nothing is injected into your mind daily except what will serve to dim your inherent light. We are aware of all this so that we are endeavoring to make the light that is shining over your fellow women in Europe reach you. If you will not be bored with these few words that we are going to say and you will read them, perhaps no matter how thick the fog that envelops our country, the brilliant light of the sun will penetrate it and it will shine however faintly.

We shall not falter if you help us. God will help us to dispel the mist for He is the God of Truth; and the former brilliance of the Filipino woman will be restored undiminished. She lacks nothing but a free mind, for she had an excess of goodness.

Friday, May 27, 2011

San Isidro Cave Now Drawing Visitors

Some 500 visitors, according to local barangay officials and guides, have come and gone to the San Isidro Cave and Subterranean River since the hidden cave was opened to the outside world two years ago. To ensure excellent caving experiences the local barangay provides visitors with head and sight equipment (helmet with mounted light), gloves and experienced guides to assist.

Visitors, who are first given a thorough briefing on basic do’s and don’ts when they are inside the cave, are charged a minimal fee of PHP100 (less than USD2), for the adventure. Proceeds go to the barangay. Visitors are advised to wear clothes they don’t mind getting soiled and to bring extra clothes. Manila-based tourism students, national caving groups, provincial residents and the plain curious comprise the bigger number of visitors to San Isidro Cave. Facilities with lockers and open showers for visitors are now being drawn up by the local barangay and the municipal government.



This is a video (now with over 12,000 hits), created by this blogger two years ago to create awareness on this perfectly preserved cave that lied hidden for ages.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Yamashita treasure found its way to Marinduque?

Gen.Tomoyuki Yamashita, the Tiger of Malaya.

It’s only natural to be skeptical of treasure hunts and finds, as I am, unless one has convincing proof of their existence in identified locations. But the story I blogged about during the last few days may not be just a wild and fanciful tale as I initially thought. Now people are talking about “at least three golden tables equivalent to a six-seater in size that really shone brightly when illuminated by lightning”.

However, you’d at once wonder how anyone could make such a description when you hear another account that tells you that nothing's been recovered so far. So, you go back to your skepticism. The diggings have been temporarily suspended, but the police has constructed a bunkhouse to secure the area day and night say informed sources. So you consider that again.

I have established that the Japanese did set foot on that property during invasion of this island in 1942. I did not appreciate that information’s full significance until I spoke today with someone in authority who had his own experiences and researches on treasure hunts. These were places elsewhere - outside Marinduque. He was curious to find out, he said, if that area was used as a Japanese garrison. Whatever signs that may have been found now usually associated with hidden treasures would confirm the presence of such treasures if the area had been used for Japanese activities, he said. In fact, it was, I said, and showed him my yesterday's blog.

Maniwaya Island, one more of Marinduque's small islands with a similar hidden treasure story


So the next question is, could those ‘treasures’ be part of the famous Yamashita treasure?

Yamashita treasure is the collective name given to all the gold, jewelry and precious items stolen by the Japanese forces of Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita, the Tiger of Malaya, from East and Southeast Asia during World War II.

The treasures were said to have been first shipped to the port of Singapore from the various Asian countries, then to the Philippines for final shipment to Japan. That final shipment did not come to pass as Japan lost that war, but Yamashita, it is said, had time to order the concealment of those treasures, divided into many treasure hordes, in caves and other locations not only in Luzon but across the country.

Map of the Island of Marinduque

After World War II, intrigued by stories or myths of Japanese plunder, many local and foreign fortune seekers have travelled to many parts of the archipelago to find those treasures that many people merely treat as urban legend. But there have been many documented accounts, usually treated with utmost secrecy, of real treasure finds that required an elaborate method of recovery, as poisons, bombs and booby traps are said to be protecting them.

After a number of recoveries it became necessary for the government to cover all treasure-hunting activities under close scrutiny and regulation purportedly to protect the nation’s natural and cultural heritage. Appropriate permit should normally be obtained, a surety bond posted, irrespective of whether the hunt takes place on public or private land. Government will then take ownership of finds determined to have historical value and a committee will determine the finder’s share.

From Internet sources, the latest books that dealt with this subject are two by Sterling Seagrave and Peggy Seagrave: The Yamato Dynasty: The Secret History of Japan’s Imperial Family (2000) and Gold Warriors: America’s Secret Recovery of Yamashita’s Gold (2003).

So, the Bahi-Cawit hidden treasure may not be just a wild tale after all, you see.

Let's see!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Mystifying 'Buried Treasures'

Is there anything in the distant past that’s worth telling about that ‘treasure’ site in the Cawit-Bahi area that could lead to some understanding why things are now being unearthed beneath the surface?

The area in question, extensively planted to coconuts and fruit trees, lies between the main provincial highway and the seashore. Curiously it’s the only private property on the island marked by an unusual elliptical arch gate made of stone and corals that has deteriorated with age. Surely, important people must have passed through that gate once upon a time.

It was my mother who told me the story many years ago, that the said wide complex was once the site of a firm engaged in buying coconuts from all over this island-province to produce copra and coconut by-products. These by-products included coconut husks turned into mats and mattresses, coconut shells made into charcoal for use in the manufacture of other products such as batteries. It employed many farmers, both men and women, who were only too happy with the promise offered by the new coco-industry to improve lives.

Sample of coins they used then during the Commonwealth period

There were, as the story went, several buildings (something that must have been fogotten over the years!), within the compound that housed the different divisions of the company, popularly known as Nacoco. It stood for National Coconut Corporation. It was during the late 30’s when this was established to promote the growth and development of the industry. All of the Philippine Islands was under the commonwealth of the United States Government then. The time for dreaming a bright future was considered at its peak.

Bombing of Japanese ships by American squadrons at Balanacan Harbor, 1944. Photo from: ulongbeach.com


But the glory days of Nacoco was halted only after several years of operation. WWII broke out. The Japanese lnvaded the island in 1942, (landing in the shores of the adjacent barangay of Bunganay), and took over all major government and school-buildings including the Nacoco compound and company-owned establishments all over Marinduque. There were many violent clashes between the Japanese and the local guerilla units that lasted until the end of 1944 when peace reigned on the island.

The site is not too far away from Cawit Port

So it appears that our mystery site did have some kind of interesting historical episode, too. These days, however, when people gather almost every day to celebrate fiestas, they often end up talking about the latest ‘buried treasures’ – how workers excavate the site at night till the wee hours under very tight security; how gold and other artifacts have been found and continue to be found. Who could blame them? The supposed involvement of key personalities only added more credence to this modern-day story.

But really, such stories or tales are not uncommon in this magical, mystifying island. People will often believe what they want to believe, and in the quiet of the night wish that the next colored or golden dream will reveal more buried treasures for them to find this time.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Bagtingon Monkey-faced Owls

I was so amazed to find these birds in Bagtingon last weekend. It was my first time to see these species of owls found in the diminishing forest cover south of this island.

Owls are supposed to be nocturnal but these domesticated trio were active at the time I saw them, which was around 3:00 pm, now and then flapping their wings then gliding between the trees and showing off their seemingly-knowing stares at anyone.

These owls have a heart-shaped facial disc, brown eyes, pinkish beak, dark brown and grey feathers and off-white front with tiny speckles in their body. They would gobble up whole fishes, spit out the fins still intact after digesting the meat and organs, and would only accept a different type of fish for food the next day, so said their owner.

Surely, these birds must have felt the combined pressure from development, fires and logging and appear happy to consider the bird-loving owner’s small property their exclusive territory.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Marinduque Treasure Troves

15th century Ming Dynasty junk, Fengshou

Yogi’s Treasure Hunt is an animated cartoon about treasure hunts around the world by a fictional bear, Yogi Bear and other interesting cartoon characters. One episode highlights the evil Greed Monster who steals all of the toys in the world and it is up to Yogi Bear and friends to hunt him down and return the toys to their rightful owners.

A Chinese junk, 1644-1648)

But speaking of treasure hunts, a venture between the National Museum and Marine Archaeology Unlimited, Inc. (MAUI), a private outfit, resulted in the excavation of a shipwreck site in 1982 on the southeast coast of Marinduque located 39.65 meters below the surface.

A local fisherman from the coastal barangay of Pinggan was the acknowledged finder of the site where, using no diving equipment, he managed to retrieve many ceramic pieces and sold them dirt cheap to anyone interested, not knowing the true value of those pieces.

He eventually succumbed apparently due to hypoxia and never knew that the importance of his find would reverberate in the corners of museums, antique shops and private rooms.

Right where the hobie sails lies the shipwreck 40 meters under

The sunken vessel was believed to be a Chinese junk carrying “stoneware jars and covers, porcelain plates, dishes, saucers and bowls” dating back to the Ming dynasty. The stoneware jars recovered were brown-glazed with relief dragon designs similar to those archaeological finds in some of the island’s caves.

Early 17th Century junk of Zheng He

Years later, the site was re-excavated purportedly to verify if more archaeological data could be generated from this site, right in the middle of Gaspar Island and the coast of Pinggan, that should have resulted in the publication of a report. Said report should also have included information on terrestrial archaeology in the island of Marinduque.

This was also to determine the role of Marinduque in the early maritime trade network in the Philippine archipelago. (Maritime Archaeology, Babits and Tiburg).

Kangxi Emperor, 1654-1722, on the deck of a junk ship.

As regards the artifacts being dug up in Bahi (Gasan), today, questions are being asked as to who now owns the treasure trove found there. Who would take on the role of Yogi Bear and Greed Monster, if any? It appears that there are existing Treasure Hunting Laws in the Philippines already covered by the Civil Code that states:

“Art. 438. Hidden treasure belongs to the owner of the land, building, or other property on which it is found.

“Nevertheless, when the discovery is made on the property of another, or of the State or any of its subdivisions, and by chance, one-half thereof shall be allowed to the finder. If the finder is a trespasser, he shall not be entitled to any share of the treasure.

“If the things found be of interest to science of the arts, the State may acquire them at their just price, which shall be divided in conformity with the rule stated.

“Art. 439. By treasure is understood, for legal purposes, any hidden and unknown deposit of money, jewelry, or other precious objects, the lawful ownership of which does not appear.”

A Ming dynasty plate.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Marinduque Gold and Buried Treasures (Again)!

Since time immemorial, stories have abounded on this little island of gold inside jars being dug up in the middle of coconut farms, treasures unearthed from ancient burial sites near beaches, or gold bars accidentally dug up from underneath old houses and churchyards. Most of these stories are often laced with tales of spirits stealing those treasures from the mortals when found because the finders failed to at once spill drops of their own blood onto those treasures. That act would have driven away the invisible keepers.

But there are also countless accounts of how poor farmers, men or women, suddenly got rich after finding gold in their own backyard or from somewhere in the boondocks following leads revealed in dreams.

It could be said that such stories are not entirely without basis. Looking back into this little island’s pre-colonial and Spanish or American colonial history, one comes across written accounts and well-documented finds of gold and treasures from caves or from near shores around the island discovered through underwater excavations. Some of those finds are kept in the National Museum now, often antique plates and jars but without the gold, and museums abroad that may still be keeping the pre-colonial gold collection (see photos here that are part of the Marche finds).






How many ‘reliable’ accounts have I heard of gold and bullion coins unearthed during reconstruction of local churches that one must be like a doubting Thomas or be overwhelmed with sheer amazement. For certain, in the case of real finds details are covered with utmost secrecy if that meant the involvement of the military to guard the sites and to keep the people stymied to even talk about it in whispers.







Now the Marinduque air is abuzz once again with talk of an allegedly enormous gold find that occurred during the last two days. The site is supposed to be somewhere between the villages of Bahi and Cawit. Local politicians, according to the buzz, are getting quick into the picture and raising jurisdictional issues, while local police are said to be tightly guarding the area as diggings continue this very moment.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Mountain Biking in Marinduque


Mountain biking as a relatively new sport has attracted many local followers in Marinduque. The sight of groups of men riding bicycles over the the island’s interior terrains has become a familiar sight any time of the year.

Cross-country cycling is one category in mountain biking that has drawn many participants who engage in this sport as a form of recreation but take it more seriously whenever there are competitions. Team Marinduque, composed of biking enthusiasts is at the forefront of promoting this sport, especially to local bikers.

Team Marinduque certainly looks forward to the day when local talents will have the opportunity to compete in national cycling competitions also. Competing in cross-country cycling does require a high level of fitness and a range of skills such as pursuing steep technical drops and aerial maneuvers over jumps or humps constructed for the purpose. A popular place where a rough terrain and rocky bends exist is an abandoned minesite in Brgy. Cayapang, Mogpog, Marinduque.


Few local inhabitants have seen this secluded place where lies an artificial lake dug out up to some 45 meters below. Throughout this island-province, Team Marinduque has charted at least fifteen trails suitable for recreational mountain biking. Some of these trails wind through river banks, forests and uphill climbs that are certain to test a biker’s strength, endurance, skills and self-reliance on survival skills, specially when met with episodes of flat tires or broken bikes.

Just some of these trails provided by Team Marinduque are shown below:



Trail from Boac to Canat and back going through dirt roads, paved roads, sloped dirt roads and rivers.















Marlanga-Matuyatuya Trail.

















Boac Poblacion through Tumagabok.









Landy to Puting Buhangin


















Mogpog-Mampaitan-Boac















Boac-Puting Buhangin-Mogpog


















Buenavista Poblacion - Tigwi - Tungib-Lipata - back to Poblacion.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

"Moryon" and Marcopper

Moryon photo by Joseph Israel Laban

“Moryon” is a documentary on some individual stories of those who practice the Lenten tradition in Marinduque known as “Moriones”. It was produced and directed by Joseph Israel Laban of Boac, Marinduque and was shown in Front Row, GMA-7’s Saturday night television program. Front Row’s approach is to treat subjects as case studies allowing these subjects to act and speak freely about their thoughts or grievances with little or no intervention, to the extent that the usual narrative leads are nowhere.

The sounds and images captured on film do the work of conveying the central point of the story to the very end. In "Moryon", there were shots of lead characters walking, or engaged in daily routines in places where environmental degradation brought about by a mine-spill accident more than 15 years ago that made their lives more miserable, still lie undisturbed.

It was only here where at the end of the docu sequence that included an interview with a mine spill victim, when a commentary was shown on screen. This was to the effect that fifteen years have come and gone, yet no serious rehabilitation efforts have been undertaken by the mining company on the affected areas.

It does seem that after 15 years only “Moryon” did its work of reminding the nation in general, and the Marinduquenos in particular, of some things they might have already forgotten, and I am grateful...

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Marinduque dragged into the Fertilizer Scam



This post together with the cartoon is a reprint from marinduqueawaitsyou.blogspot.com entitled Latest News on Fertilizer Scam Scandal:

"I found the following news from the Manila Standard issue of May 17, 2011. Looking forward to the conclusion of this case, which may not be concluded for a quite a long time, I believe, knowing the justice system in the Philippines for the rich and powerful is not the same for the poor and the non-politicians."

"Fertilizer fund mess: three accused post bail

"Three former public officials who have been implicated in the P728-million fertilizer scam posted bail at the Sandiganbayan on Monday.

Former Catanduanes governor Leonardo Verceles Jr. who is facing graft case paid P30,000 for his temporary liberty.

Former congressmen Nanette Castelo-Daza of Quezon City and Carmencita Reyes of Marinduque posted bail in the amount of P60,000 each on charges of technical malversation apart from violation of the anti-graft law.The three were the first batch of respondents to appear before the anti-graft court and posted bail for their provisional liberty after their cases were raffled off to several Sandiganbayan Divisions on Friday.

Verceles, Reyes and Daza were named as beneficiaries of proceeds from the sale of fertilizer intended for farmers.

Verceles’ graft case went to the First Division while Reyes and Daza’s cases would be handled by the first and third divisions, respectively.

The Ombudsman ordered the filing of charges against them last month after years of conducting an investigation into the alleged fertilizer fund anomaly involving public funds.

It also ordered the filing of plunder charges against former Agriculture secretary Luis “Cito” Lorenzo and former undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor, the prosecutorial arm of the Office of the Ombudsman, has decided not to file the cases yet against Lorenzo and Bolante after they filed their respective motions for reconsideration to block their indictment before the court". By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Paranormal Orbs at San Isidro Cave?

Oh, so, so many orbs at San Isidro Cave! Orbs are those small, circular images that are not normally visible to the naked eye but appear in still photographs. People who are into the paranormal link them to the spirit world – that is, they are supposed to be manifestations of spirits or angels, even. From time to time, we come across ghost stories in both local and foreign TV programs that feature orbs moving and hovering strangely around places believed to be haunted.

A singular orb here and an amazing haze swirling

The proliferation of orbs in many photographs became evident, however, with the mass production of digital cameras. More orbs appear, apparently, when the flash is closer to the lens of the camera. Many paranormal investigators still cling to their assertions, however.

Whatever, it is certain that maybe millions of orbs inhabit this secret place in Sta. Cruz, a cave only discovered for the outside world during the last couple of years. The cave has a length of 1,200 meters and has massive chambers soaring up to about 150 feet.

After descending through a small entrance by about fifty feet one discovers himself standing in the middle of a huge chamber and at once noticing the cave’s pristine condition. One then wades through a pool of cool water that leads to shafts, climbs and drops of varying depths and finds even bigger chambers inside that are spectacularly designed by nature. You'd think that cathedrals and treasures found in them such as art and religious reliquaries must have found inspiration from these caves.

Halfway through the cave one hears the sound of water gushing from the rocks coming from different directions, the most significant of which is a 9-foot gusher that invites visitors to bathe in it. I hear whispers about possible ‘purifying powers’…

Past this waterfall and through a walking tunnel (and that’s after an hour of exploring), one finds himself in an even bigger and wider chamber. By then you wonder what more there is to find deeper into the cave. But, you’d find the guides talking you out of it instead.

Marinduque visitors who are familiar only with the legendary Bathala Cave will certainly find San Isidro Cave to be in a different league. Once outside, you might find yourself really asking, where on earth have I just been? And find yourself fixed, carefully examining the orbs...
















Mapping and training for local cave guides have been undertaken by DENR in cooperation with local government units, done with emphasis on the preservation of the cave. Visitors should coordinate with the Office of the Mayor, Sta. Cruz or the Barangay Captain of San Isidro, Capt. Perfirio Manuba, #0921-4129641.

Monday, May 16, 2011

In Maniwaya Island is Palo Maria Beach...

Photos of Maniwaya by The Manansala Portfolio.

Palo Maria Beach is a stretch of white sand beach in Maniwaya Island, accessible from Buyabod Port via motorized banca, and it takes about 30 minutes from said port to get there. The island is also accessible from Brgy. Mangayao, Gen. Luna, Quezon taking about an hour by boat. Many visitors during the last Lenten season came from Quezon and just finding beach spots to their liking anywhere on the island.

Maniwaya is still untouched by commercial developers so the bigger number of visitors just come by to spend the whole day swimming and exploring the shore - and maybe taste the bibingka, rice cake, or agar-agar seaweed jelly that the local inhabitants make. Such seaweeds naturally grow in certain areas around the island.

About two miles away from the northeast coast of the island is a circular sandbar, called Palad, that appears during low tide. At high-tide it also attracts swimmers who have fun diving from boats just maneuvering around it. Palad, palm of your hand, not unlike a mirage, is a curious spot in the middle of the sea to wonder at.

The white-sand beaches of Maniwaya island is the closest such beach you can hie off to from the Metro. Palo Maria Beach (Resort), has a Facebook page that could be contacted for more information.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Finding a reliable power supplier for Marinduque

Photo of Poctoy White Sand Beach in Torrijos. When the current rain-showers stop it will be teemed with people escaping from the heat and from power woes.

A competitive selection process for the selection of one or more new power provider (NPP) to supply power in the island of Marinduque has been started by Marelco. The process is supposed to be designed to ensure that prospective NPP's possess the suitable level of financial and technical capability. Consideration is supposed to be given to the NPP who could provide the lowest long-term cost of power and services, environmental considerations in the local area and the most advantageous implementing schedule.

As everyone in Marinduque, and it is hoped that everyone knows by now, the solution to the Marinduque power supply problem should have been solved with the signing, six years ago (in 2005), of a Power Supply Agreement between Marelco and 3i Powergen. Commercial operation of 3i Powergen for the supply of 12.480 MW for 15 years should have commenced by February 2007, but it never materialized, no power plant was ever put up, not a semblance of any kilowatt generated.

It took five years from the signing of the PSA before Marelco decided to rescind the contract, but only after constant brownouts compelled consumers to delay payment of their power bills making its financial situation worse, and after a huge rally in Boac left the electric cooperative "traumatized".

In accordance with DOE rules and procedures for private sector participation in NPC-SPUG areas, distribution utilities operating in such areas have the option to manage the competitive selection process by itself, instead of engaging the services of a transaction advisor as was done before. Marelco has decided to take this option.


To the Light.

"There is no such thing as darkness;only a failure to see". ~
Malcolm Muggeridge


Marelco's invitation to Bidders as it appears in its annual report released last Saturday, May 7, is reproduced below:


Marinduque Electric Cooperative, Inc.
(MARELCO)
Ihatub, Boac, Marinduque

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID

The Marinduque Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MARELCO) as implementing agency through its Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) invites Bidders to apply for eligibility and to participate in the Bidding for the Supply of a brand new Modular Type Diesel Hybrid Power Plant with a capacity to initially deliver more or less 3,000,000 kwh per month to the MARELCO system.

Prospective Bidders should possess the required technical expertise and adequate financial resources to deliver, install and commission the Power Plant as indicated in the Terms of Reference. The SBAC shall use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids. The SBAC will conduct post qualification of the lowest calculated and responsive bid.

The complete schedule of activities in conformity to the provisions of R.A. 9184, and its implementing rules and regulations and the ERC Res. No. 11 series of 2005, is listed as follows:

Receipt from prospective Bidders of Letter of
Intent (LOI) with Application for Eligibility - May 2, 2011
Issuance of Bid Documents - May 19, 2011
Pre-Qualification Evaluation - May 31, 2011
Pre-bid Conference - June 9, 2011
Receipt of Bids from Bidders - June 20, 2011
Opening of Bids & Comparison with Best New
Entrant Rate (BNER) - July 8, 2011
Negotiation and Award of PSA - August 9, 2011
Award of Contracts/Issuance of NTP - September 5, 2011

The SBAC will issue to Prospective Bidders through the SBAC Secretariat the Eligibility Forms & Bidding Documents upon submission of Letter of Intent (LOI) and upon payment of non-refundable amount of Thirty Thousand Pesos Only (Php 30,000.00). Prospective Bidders shall submit the Eligibility Requirements & Bid Documents to the SBAC Secretariat, at Marelco Main Office, Ihatub, Boac, Marinduque on the date and time specified above.

All bids must be accompanied by Bid Security in any of the following forms:

1. Cash/Manager’s Check/Certified Check in the amount of Php 8,726,000.00 equivalent to the estimated 1% cost of the Power Plant.

2. Bank Guarantee in the amount of Php 13,089,000.00 equivalent to the estimated cost 1% of the Power Plant posted in the account of MARELCO.

MARELCO reserves the righ to reject any or all bids, waive any formality or technicaiity therein, accept any bid deemed most advantageous to MARELCO, or annul the bidding process at any time prior to award without incurring any liability to any bidder or party. Further, MARELCO assumes no obligation to compensate any bidder or party for any loss or expense incurred in the preparation of the bid or participation in the bidding process.

Inquiries on any details or particulars related to the subject of this notice may be made at the office of SBAC, at MARELCO Main Office in Ihatub, Boac, Maarinduque.

(Signed)
THELMA L. MAYANGITAN
Officer-in-Charge

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

What's the latest on Power and Marelco?

Morion masks conceal real faces of people.

During last Saturday’s general membership meeting of the Marinduque Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Marelco), hosts Menchie Gaan and William Bobis took turns in explaining how the most recent power interruptions were caused either by “sumabit na palapa sa electric wire in Tarug”, “kawayan na sumabit sa wire in Tawiran”, “trip-offs”, “daga na pumasok sa power barge”, etc. etc.

Coconut leaves or tree branches falling into power lines or rats interfering in human affairs causing power trip-offs are apparently things that Marelco management sees as inevitable, that electric consumers just have to live with them. As explained, there was no load shedding scheme being implemented recently as a result of any power deficiency. The 1,200 or so out of Marelco’s 43,994 members, found sufficient for a quorum to be declared, sat in silence, as they eagerly awaited the raffle draws.

The hosts also took turns explaining a Marelco board resolution that needed to be ratified by the membership, one that has to do with the restructuring of the electric cooperatives unpaid power bill with the National Power Corporation. It is in the amount of Php 68.9-million inclusive of a contested amount of Php 21-million (representing discounts and interests), now the subject of a case filed with ERC. The hosts informed the audience that NPC’s proposed MOA requires that Marelco properties should be attached to it, but due to certain restrictions brought about by previous loans with NEA this could not be done. A resolution, they said, must be issued requesting NPC for a “MOA without collateral”.

Another item presented by the hosts was also the need to ratify a resolution approved by the board on the utilization of a 69 KV line from Balanacan Power Barge to the Boac Diesel Power Plant. This, they said, would address and minimize the perennial systems loss problem that aggravates the current situation. During the open forum, a member stood up to move that the resolution should be changed from one “approving the immediate utilization of 69 KV line from Balanacan Power Barge to Boac Diesel Power Plant” to one “requesting the NPC for Marelco’s utilization of 69 KV line…”

FINDING A NEW POWER PROVIDER

It was then announced that Marelco, on March 4 and 11, 2011, published in the Philippine Star an invitation for New Power Providers to apply for eligibility and to bid for the supply of a brand new Modular Type Diesel Hybrid Power Plant with capacity to deliver 3,000,000 kwh per month to the Marelco system. Marelco, now with “go signal” from ERC, will undertake this competitive selection process, they said, without need for any transaction advisor. This, they add, may eventually involve “direct purchase or rental by the new power provider of NPC generators".

Pre-qualification evaluation, they said, will be undertaken on May 31, 2011, receipt of bids from bidders by the Special Bids and Awards Committee on June 20, 2011, and awarding of a Power Supply Agreement is scheduled on September 5, 2011.
Commercial operation by the new power provider is expected, as will be required by Marelco, after 270 days from the award of contract - that is, by June 2012.



In its Marelco News special issue of April-September 2010, Marelco stated: “To cast away doubts and ensure transparency, information on the schedule of activities and other pertinent issues/concerns relative to CSP launching and forthcoming bidding will be posted through the internet. Further, to ascertain the satisfactory conduct of transparent and meritorious competitive bidding, the same would be televised; every move will be recorded. No mischief will go undetected”.

That actually saw print. From what I gather, those schedules, issues and concerns relative to the CSP have not been posted in any website, so far, not even in Marelco’s Facebook page which it utilizes when making announcements.




All the power stakeholders in Marinduque are, of course, one with Marelco in that elusive dream of finding a permanent solution to the power crisis that has engulfed this off-grid island-province. But all eyes and ears must now be directed to it as the electric cooperative undertakes the smooth and properly conduct of the selection process for a new power provider. It ensures transparency in this process, it says, but that’s something that has sadly eluded this electric cooperative since the crisis started. But, maybe this time. So, all the best.